Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

103: The Arrival of the Jewel Elder

Despite the intense scrutiny surrounding the destruction of the Welsh Cathedral, the news remained largely unknown to the inhabitants of both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires due to the strict secrecy imposed by the Church headquarters. They only knew that a beautiful scene had appeared on the island of Britain in the far north.

However, within the city of Rome in the Western Roman Empire, the matter sparked a fierce debate. After all, so many people had died and so much wealth had been lost; someone had to be blamed. Ultimately, the internal authorities identified the murderer as—

The wandering magicians, the remaining Dead Apostles and some kind of fantasy species, as well as the wavering believers on the British Isles, need to be punished more severely, otherwise how can their faith be strengthened?

The surviving Dead Apostle swordsman, Be Ze, was spared the pursuit and punishment similar to that of the Dead Apostle Kaubek Alcatraz, who attempted to defy the Church's judgment decades ago, because of his 'rule-abiding' nature and considerable combat prowess.

The deaths of some easily replaceable personnel did not pose a significant problem for a large organization that has existed since the Roman Empire. In fact, the deaths relieved some pressure.

But all in all, everything was peaceful and prosperous.

Even though the Roman Empire, which lasted for four hundred years, was split into two parts for some reason, it was by no means something that could be arbitrarily invaded by mere heretics or people of unknown origin. Since the establishment of the Church as the state religion, no enemy has been able to enter the heart of the empire and can only live a miserable life in the border areas.

After all, this was already proven in 300 AD, and presumably it will remain so from now on.

The church is so confident.

The sky was clear and sunny, and although the afternoon sun shone, a cold wind still blew.

The city of Constantinople, once known as the 'New Rome' and invested and developed by Nero to control the eastern part of the empire, is now the capital of this eastern empire.

Despite the continuous influx of wealth from the eastern Mediterranean and West Asia into Constantinople, it was inevitable that there were impoverished areas within it.

The small, dilapidated houses stood side by side on both sides of the narrow street, all of them low and somewhat dark.

An adult could easily touch the top of the house, and because there was little open space, the streets between the houses were dark and damp, making one feel as if they had entered a pitch-black tunnel.

In this environment, there is a room. Although the interior space is not large, it is arranged in an orderly manner. The walls of the room are decorated with some simple decorations, including dried flowers, hand-woven trinkets and some small ornaments.

Although these items are not expensive, they exude a simple and warm aesthetic.

"It's tough."

During this time, Avia opened her eyes and happened to hear this sound.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the black-haired girl who had been covering her mouth for some reason immediately sat up straight.

Her clothes were completely unadorned and jet black, but despite being a single color, one could sense an indescribable air of authority emanating from the girl.

Then, with bloodshot eyes devoid of any emotion, she looked at Avia lying there and quietly raised a long spear.

"This is yours."

A cold, arrogant voice.

Avia nodded, not quite understanding what this Dead Apostle girl wanted to do, but since they were going to have a conversation, it was best to get up.

After all, he was just a little tired at the time, and wasn't actually seriously injured...

He couldn't quite explain why he felt so tired, but part of the reason was probably because he had made up his mind.

It is imperative to rectify the enormous organization that was born from itself, even if it means its destruction, because it has, since some unknown time, been close to becoming corrupt.

Moreover, there is no natural external force that can easily change it now; its immense violence has made it an organization that surpasses the Clock Tower.

"...Who exactly are you?"

The black-haired girl asked calmly.

She was somewhat confused. This should be the person the Demonic Marshal had asked her to find... But was he really a person?

Although physical characteristics like aura are unique to humans and conform to human traits...

The taste is so fragrant, but I can't bite into it no matter how hard I try. I almost wore down the tips of my teeth. What is this body made of?

"If you ask my name, it's Avia; if you ask who I am, I'm a Hun."

The silver-haired boy smiled naturally in response to the girl's question.

"how about you?"

"I am... why should I tell you?"

The girl didn't seem to appreciate Avia's goodwill and continued speaking coldly, showing that she didn't take Avia seriously.

"Fu!"

Seemingly to show its master's attitude, the white demon dog barked fiercely, its eyes looking like it wanted to eat someone, and even waved its paw.

However, it was precisely because of this peculiar cry that Avia naturally came to know the identity of the black-haired girl who had suddenly arrived in Britain. After all, she was the White Beast, the primate killer, and the master of Cathy Palug. In the Type-Moon world, her master was none other than the Flower Magician.

There is only that black-clad princess, but since the white princess will not be created until the 12th century, she is the rightful 'princess' at this stage.

Altrouge merely narrowed her blood-red eyes slightly at her pet's arrogant attitude.

"I forgot to mention."

The girl turned her head to the side, glanced coldly at the pet on her shoulder, and said in a voice even colder than her expression:

"Who gave you permission to call me that without my consent?"

Just leaving behind this one sentence is enough to imagine how dark Fufu's mood must be. The white demon dog, being scolded by its master for the first time, is trembling with sadness.

"Haha, the little girl finally found it!"

As a voice rang out, a white-haired old man with a vibrant expression appeared. Although he had the face of an old man, he was 1.9 meters tall, strong and sturdy, and had a very straight back.

"But let me introduce myself first, after all, I'm not that kind of girl who throws tantrums for no reason, hahaha..."

After laughing, the old man stroked his beard and slowly said:

"Greetings, Your Excellency. My name is Kishua Zelrich Schbeinorg."

104: A Born Savior

Avia was well aware of the name of the Demon Marshal who had mastered the Second Law and killed Zhu Yue.

However, although Kishua appeared physically robust, there was a subtle sense of listlessness about him, as if something was constantly eroding him.

In fact, since arriving in the year 400, Avia has been puzzled as to why Kishua would stand idly by while the Clock Tower fell into ruin, and why he didn't even help Kaubak, who was also a disciple of Solomon, when he was being hunted down. Kishua shouldn't be that kind of person...

Now, at this moment of meeting in person, Avia finally understood, because the Second Mage, who should have been immortal, was dying in an extremely bizarre way.

Perhaps noticing Avia's surprise, the white-haired old man immediately continued after introducing himself:

"So-called magic is indeed something that magic can't compare to; it's a power that far surpasses it."

The mastery of the second magic proved the existence of parallel worlds. Thanks to this, the world's lifespan was extended, giving hope to planets that were gradually losing their dreams.

The magic marshal, capable of using the second method to transfer to "gems" in different worlds, even time travel is included in it. In addition, there is the alteration of records, the rewriting of phenomena, etc., which is equivalent to the operation of parallel worlds. He can be described as an existence with infinite energy.

"However, four hundred years ago, my junior brother Kobek, inspired by the first Pope Novia, studied something with the support of the Church."

In this rather simple room, one can glimpse the cold, steely blue sky through the plain window, hear the whispering wind outside, and feel the constant rattling of the small house.

Alteruki listened attentively to the explanation from the Grand Marshal of the Magic Path. After all, she was also curious about how Kishua had lost. The scene of the moon being mirrored and the endless ether energy cannons was truly shocking to her.

"Two hundred years ago, Kobek finally succeeded in developing it." The Grand Marshal of the Magic Path sighed slightly. "Magic, faith, 'it' is a unique fantasy that people who aim to integrate the two have been tirelessly exploring. 'It' is neither a precious book that records divine pronouncements, nor... nor is it a tangible thing."

"Inspired by the first Pope Novia, the ultimate goal of the thoughts of Kobek and many other church saints is the unique miracle created by the church, which is also the 'love of God' itself."

Upon hearing Kishua's description, Avia knew what it was: the Holy Scripture Tretine. But why was Kobaek, who possessed the Holy Scripture Tretine, being hunted down...? He couldn't help but feel puzzled again.

While Tredin can indeed transform into a human, under the tutelage of her 'father' Kobek, she shouldn't go too far.

But then, Kishua's words dispelled Avia's confusion, for the white-haired old man said:

"The intangible love of God is not the main reason for my injury. Rather, it was the person the church sent during our joint effort to kill Zhu Yue, a born saint who received the unique approval of the illusion 'love of God' itself, and was even hailed as the new savior—"

"Mabur Prayer for the Wilderness".

The Demon Marshal couldn't help but recall the year 300 AD. Even he himself had to admit back then that she was indeed a born saint. During the battle of the Thousand-Year City, she treated magicians, church members, and Dead Apostles equally...

At that time, even Kishua believed that with this person's charismatic leadership, all factions could indeed coexist after the killing of Zhu Yue, adding vitality to the planet's continuation...

However, this saint, who appeared smiling on the battlefield of his great battle with Zhu Yue, and who, through some unknown means, stripped away the Infinite Ether Cannon and the mirrored moon—

"The 'fantasy' she possessed and the church's immense faith severely injured me, causing my physical condition to deteriorate rapidly. As a result, I can no longer observe parallel worlds. In other words, she used these two forces to shatter my magic."

........

Rome, beneath the Papal Palace.

Despite being underground, it was illuminated by numerous torches and lamps powered by magic, making it a place where the sun never sets.

Here, intricate patterns are carved everywhere, each stroke brimming with artistic power. These patterns gleam in the light, as if alive, displaying solemnity and sanctity.

The air in this underground space is filled with a faint scent of incense. This fragrance, mixed with the calming aroma of ancient wood and stone walls, evokes a deep sense of tranquility and reverence. It is as if time has stood still here, and every moment is filled with holiness and solemnity.

"Are you going to die again?"

A soft voice emanated from someone atop a throne made of pure gold and inlaid with various gemstones.

Following the direction from which the sound came, one could see a person nailed to the wall.

“A hundred years have passed, and you can still be reincarnated. Just as you said, you are some kind of god or descendant, Art? Beelzebub? Or the foreign evil god you have been longing for? Well, never mind, it’s all the same.”

That wall seemed to be a completely different world from this one, permeated with dampness, mold, and the smell of blood, filled with an atmosphere of desolation and decay.

"However, I have already prepared the materials for your reincarnation. So continue to contribute your strength. Speaking of which, if you hadn't personally appeared in the Thousand-Year City and in front of me that year, I probably wouldn't have been able to capture you. But if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have understood what great cause the Lord wanted to accomplish when he founded the church."

"For this, I should thank you."

As the sound faded again, a corpse was thrown to the bottom of the wall. Then, under a thin line of magic invisible to the naked eye, the person above the wall immediately lost all life. At the same time, an unknown thread of power traveled from the person on the wall to the corpse below.

In less than a second, the person who was supposed to be dead opened his eyes, but was immediately nailed to the wall again. In his eyes, there was only anger.

"Francesca, as always, just contribute your meager divine power and prepare to welcome the new world that has yet to arrive."

"In other words, let's make some necessary sacrifices for my plan, for the great cause that Lord Novia was unable to complete."

105: I'm leaving, so you have to stick close to me.

Mabul Prayer for the Wilderness

Although it's just a similar name, considering what Kishua said about being a born saint, Avia could only guess that the destined savior, Sesshouin Kiara, had descended into the world more than a thousand years early.

However, according to the explanation given by the Demon Marshal, Avia probably also understood the question that had been troubling her for a long time: why the church had gradually decayed since 300 AD. It was most likely that this was the work of the eccentric saint, Qihuang.

"I'm really sorry for saying so much irrelevant stuff."

Even so, Kishua still gave a hearty laugh and continued:

"In short, a hundred years ago, the only points of future that I could observe after my defeat were the vague information of 419 AD and Britain. All other points of future had disappeared. Lady Avia, to be honest, I can't guarantee that the person was you, but since you were chosen by Eltruch, then it must be the current planet's instruction."

Eltrauge stared silently at the magic marshal before her, then cast a suspicious glance at Avia beside her, clearly not having heard any logical connection between her choice and the planet's instructions.

Avia understood this, because in Tsukihime R, it was clearly stated that only when Arcueid and Arcueid, who was born in the 12th century, truly fought to the death could the victor become the true 'ONE,' which is Earth's UO.

After all, the hybrid of the True Ancestor and the Dead Apostle is essentially created from half a planet.

"Fine, whether it's me or not, I'm definitely going to take action against the church."

Avia said without hesitation, as if she had already made up her mind.

"Hahaha, that's good. In that case, I'll be going now. Otherwise, if Mabul catches me, the consequences will be dire; my power will be continuously drained..."

Just as it came, it appeared because of sound, and it will leave because of sound.

After the lively white-haired old man left, Avia and Eltrucci began a silent stare-down.

What I expected to be a few dozen seconds of silence turned into a silence that lasted for four or five minutes and still hadn't ended.

The white demon dog now lay on the ground, seemingly exhausted, clearly saddened by its master's cold attitude.

The black-haired girl exuded an air of mystery that suggested she wouldn't easily approach others, as well as a certain aura, as if she herself was an anomaly regardless of her background.

To be honest, even though she knew that this princess's appearance and physique were within the range of a fourteen-year-old, Avia felt that she had encountered far too many of these things.

Bang bang bang.

There was a knock on the door; it seemed someone had come over.

With a cold sigh, Altrouge stood up, glanced at Fou without saying a word, and then the white demon hound jumped up and opened the door.

"My Lady, it's terrible! We've been exposed!"

The blond man who appeared before them, with his disordered breathing and inexplicably upturned eyes, made Avia realize that this was not the same dead apostle who had appeared in the labyrinth, claiming he could only survive by buying blood from the hospital...